Toronto police find missing teen Esther safe after urgent search
A 14-year-old called Esti was found safe in Toronto after a two-week search that brought in drones, a marine unit and a $25,000 reward.
A two-week search for 14-year-old Esther, known as Esti, ended with a safe recovery in Toronto and a fast-moving police operation that had gripped North York and the wider community.
Toronto police said Esther was found at about 1 p.m. on May 28, 2026, in a home in Toronto. Supt. Donald Belanger of 32 Division later told reporters at a 3 p.m. press conference at Earl Bales Community Centre that she appeared to be in good physical health. Police said she was taken to hospital for physical and emotional assessment after being reunited with officers.
Esther disappeared from Toronto’s north end on May 16, 2026, and was last seen around Bathurst Street and Hotspur Road, near Earl Bales Park. Her disappearance triggered an urgent search that stretched across the city and drew in specialized resources, including a marine unit and drones. Police also upgraded the case to a Level 1 operation, the highest level, underscoring how seriously investigators treated the risk to the missing teen.
The response widened further as the days passed. Toronto police offered a $25,000 reward for information, a move that reflected both the scale of the public concern and the need for fresh tips. Family members also publicly appealed for her safe return, adding a personal urgency to a case that had already become a major focus for local residents, media crews and police alike.
Toronto police said the investigation would continue to determine whether any criminality was connected to Esther’s disappearance. No one had been arrested or charged when the recovery was announced, leaving detectives to piece together what happened during the nearly two weeks she was missing.
Toronto Police Association representatives praised the work of the Homicide & Missing Persons Unit after Esther was located and reunited with her family. For a true-crime audience, the case stood out not only because it ended safely, but because it showed how quickly a missing-child response can escalate, from patrol-level concern to a full coordinated hunt involving drones, specialized units and a reward offer before the break came.
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